Saturday, June 23rd

14:00 Consadole Sapporo vs Gamba Osaka – Sapporo Dome
A Six Pointer – Gamba MUST Win!
Consadole – FWs Yokono and Sakaki were added to a long injury list.
Gamba – DFs Kaji and Eduardo out, FW Kawanishi still missing due to long term (broken leg) injury. Sasaki must be considered doubtful.
One win for Gamba, and one draw, in J1 2008 is about it!
Gamba Osaka (P13 W2 D3 L11 GD -11) have addressed their goalscoring problem by re-signing club favourite Leandro on loan, although he will not yet be available to play in this match. Games against Sagan Tosu and Urawa Reds have seen defeats for Gamba, despite having the lion’s share of the chances and possession. They need to score goals and who better than Consadole to score against!? Gamba haven’t won in their last five but drew against top club Vegalta and really should have beaten both Tosu and Reds and so will be looking to correct results, if not displays. A loss here would confirm that Gamba are J2-bound!
Consadole Sapporo (P14 W1 D1 L12 GD -22) have conceded 17 goals in their last five games, all losses, of course and not even their greatest fan can believe that they will survive in this division so, perhaps that small ray of hope, a silver lining is that they should feel no pressure!? All the pressure will be on Gamba as this is a REAL six-pointer but, despite all the expectation and pressure on the away team I think we can EXPECT a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA!

18:00 FC Tokyo vs Cerezo Osaka – Ajinomoto Stadium
Cerezo Need Wins Before Kiyotake’s Farewell!
FC Tokyo – MF Otake out for the season, FW Hirayama nearing fitness, DF Ota has a metatarsal stress fracture.
Cerezo – no injuries reported, but rumours of FW Kempes being sold are strong.
Three wins each, and five draws since 2003 in 11 meetings.
Four goals conceded, three wins and draw, before last week’s 1-0 loss to Marinos suggests FC Tokyo (P13 W7 D1 L5 GD +1) could easily be higher than they are. Better finishing needed for the capital team who started out very promising before slipping. Being ousted from the ACL may allow them to concentrate on J1 – a  blessing in disguise? But, on the other hand, what is their target from this season? An ACL place? Here we go again, then!
Cerezo Osaka (P14 W5 D2 L7 GD -2) must face life without Kiyotake soon, and rumours of Kim’s departure also abound, while they may well let Kempes go very soon – changes in the offing. The young team should be able to stay away from the relegation zone but need to show more consistency. Expect an away win today for CEREZO OSAKA!

18:00 Shimizu S-Pulse vs Sagan Tosu – Outsourcing Stadium
A Must-Win for S-Pulse, If They Are to Challenge for the Top!
Sagan – DF Kitani and MF Takahashi are out injured.
The first meeting between these two teams in J1!
Shimizu S-Pulse (P14 W7 D2 L5 GD +3) have scored two goals in their last five games – in the 1-0 win over Vegalta and their 1-1 draw with Cerezo and must get among the goals if they are to challenge for the top spot. Thankfully S-Pulse also have the best (equal) defensive record in the division, so are still hovering in the upper echelons and waiting to move in for the kill! if they had a Didier Drogba they’d be already ten points clear at the top!
Sagan Tosu lost their unbeaten home record last week to a single goal from Yokohama F.Marinos (a habit for Marinos this season) and have started to feel the pressure of keeping up their good, unexpected start to their first ever season in J1. Only one win in their last five now sees Sagan settling into the pattern that I expected from them and I feel they won’t again reach the heights of  the first couple of months of J1 play, even starting to struggle in the relegation area soon. Expect a WIN FOR SHIMIZU S-PULSE!

18:30 Kashiwa Reysol vs Kashima Antlers – Kashiwa Stadium
Stalemate in the Offing?
Reysol – DF Masushima is suspended. FW Ricardo Lobo has gone on loan to JEF, FW Kitajima has left on loan to Roasso Kumamoto.
Antlers – DF Araiba is suspended, but no injuries reported.
Nine wins for Antlers, just the two for Reysol with three draws over the last decade. Both of Reysol’s wins came last year in their championship season.
Kashiwa Reysol (P13 W6 D2 L5 GD +2) are on a four match winning run including a come-from-behind 4-2 destruction of Omiya Ardija last weekend. They have finally realised that Ricardo Lobo is not the man they needed to compliment their championship-winning team and he has been jettisoned to JEF United in J2 on loan. With various players hitting top form and this confidence-boosting run of wins, they will be a handful for Antlers for sure.
Kashima Antlers (P14 W5 D2 L7 GD +2) sit in 13th place, despite putting a good run together to negate their goal-less and point-less start to the season but wins against Kobe and Sapporo were bookended with losses against Jubilo and Nagoya, so they are definitely inconsistent right now and not beating in-form teams. Reysol are in-form, but Antlers will fight to the death and I expect a DRAW here!

18:30 Sanfrecce Hiroshima vs Omiya Ardija – Hiroshima Big Arch
Easy for Sanfrecce?
Ardija – FW Cho is suspended, DF Tsubouchi nearing return to fitness.
11 wins for Sanfrecce, just four for Ardija, and two draws in the last decade.
Despite a new coach, players moving on and the fact that they seemed to bean Omiya Ardija reject in FW Ishihara, Hiroshima Sanfrecce (P14 W9 D1 L4 GD +14) have prospered and currently sit in 2nd place, just two points off the lead and having scored 30 goals in the process. With Sato and Ishihara on top form and the players settling in fast under new coach Moriyasu, things look good for Sanfrecce.
Despite a new coach, formation changes and higher expectations Omiya Ardija (P14 W4 D3 L7 GD -13) have not won in four outings, conceding 11 goals in the process. With Cho mising today, and up against a player who was laways on the bench when he played for Ardija – Ishihara – we can expect fireworks as the ex-player proves a point!? Omiya to go down, a WIN for SANFRECCE HIROSHIMA!

19:00 Urawa Reds vs Vegalta Sendai – Saitama Stadium
Tough One for Vegalta!
Reds – MF Suzuki is considered doubtful with a thigh injury, MF Naoki Yamada is out for the season. FWs Popo and Escudero still on the injury list.
Vegalta – FW Wilson is suspended. DF Uemoto still out. MF Sekiguchi doubtful for a full game.
Three wins for Reds, one win for Vegalta and three draws in just the seven meetings between these two teams. Reds have already beaten their opponents in the Nabisco Cup this year.
Urawa Reds (P14 W7 D4 L3 GD +5) were fortunate to come out with a win last weekend when they were outplayed and out-shot by Gamba Osaka, but it’s goals that count, and a last minute winner will have given the team a boost and added to their unbeaten run – last five games have yielded two wins and three draws so Reds will know they need to get more wins out of these games that are ending as draws and this is, as they say, a real six-pointer if they are to keep in touch with the top team.
Vegalta Sendai (P14 W9 D3 L2 GD +18) have won only two of their last five games, and that includes losses against near-challengers Frontale and S-Pulse, so the cracks are beginning to show and the pressure is taking its toll. I do not expect them to stay top much longer and, as with last season, they will probably end the season in 4th or 5th place. This is a game they must win if they are to disprove my theory of impending collapse but I think we will see a WIN for URAWA REDS.

19:00 Kawasaki Frontale vs Yokohama F.Marinos – Todoroki Stadium
Kazama’s Kawasaki March On!?
Frontale – DF Komiyama nearing full fitness after long absence. DF Jeci still out. MF Noborusato out with a fracture, MF Sugiura has a sprained ankle – doubtful.
Marinos – DF Amano is out for the season.
Ten wins for Frontale, seven for Marinos and three draws in meetings between these close rivals over the last ten years.
Despite a reasonable start to the season results-wise, it was obvious deep down that 1-0 wins from goals scored on free kicks was giving the fans a false sense of security and the powers-that-be at Kawasaki Frontale (P14 W8 D1 L5 GD +1) were not fooled and made a change, bringing in coach Kazama for Soma, and what a difference it has made. Frontale are now within five points of the top (although 17 goals difference less!) and have won four of their last five. Defensive injuries have taken their toll, but they are scoring to make up for the goals conceded!
Yokohama F.Marinos (P14 W5 D6 L3 GD +3) started the campaign badly but put a run together and swiftly moved into the top half of the table. They are unbeaten in their last five, although two draws are included in there, and it is of note that they have scored only 15 goals in their 13 games. Luckily their defence is doing its job and we await the forwards coming into form to make the season safe, if not spectacular! But they will struggle this weekend and I expect a WIN for KAWASAKI FRONTALE!

19:00 Nagoya Grampus vs Jubilo Iwata – Mizuho Athletics Stadium
Resurgent Grampus Stifle High-Flying Jubilo?
Grampus – FW Tamada must still be considered doubtful. MFs Isomura and Nakamura are out long term.
Jubilo – Influential MF Yamada is suspended. GK Kawaguchi and FW Kanazono are long-term injury absentees.
Eight wins for Grampus, five for Jubilo and six draws for these two teams in 19 meetings since 2003.
Jubilo Iwata (P14 W7 D3 L4 GD +11) looked very average at the start of the season, even though they weren’t struggling. Along came Korean Baek and suddenly there was a new flowing to their game and a good run came together. It should be noted that after he was carried off last weekend, Vissel Kobe took all three points. Is he really that pivotal to their game and will he be completely fit this week? Despite their home loss last week Jubilo have scored 16 goals in their last five and will be plenty to handle for a faltering Grampus.
Nagoya Grampus (P13 W6 D2 L5 GD -1) are looking at a negative goal difference and the bottom half of the table, which must have been unexpected for them at the start of the campaign. FW Nagai is blossoming but they still leave gaps and lack concentration during games and manager Stoijkovic will be looking for much more from his team in the coming months and a definite rise up the table. Today could be the day they put one over on a team above them, but I am going for A DRAW here today!

19:00 Vissel Kobe vs Albirex Niigata – Home’s Stadium
Nishino’s Kobe to Get Another Three Points!
Vissel – FWs Tashiro and Mogi out. MF Hashimoto still doubtful.
Albirex – DF Kim is suspended. MF Uchida is out for the season.
Just two wins for Vissel in 17 meetings between these two teams since 2003. 11 wins for Albirex and four draws.
Vissel Kobe upset Jubilo Iwata away last weekend and looked good for their win – with 19-year-old Keijiro Ogawa scoring his first ever hat trick in the process. New coach Nishino is still learning the strengths of his team but looks as if he will use national team player Inoha in his favoured position of centre back, which will leave him looking for a key player to fill in at defensive midfield. So far Oya is looking like he could be that player. Young, a bright future, and, along with Ogawa, Okui, Morioka and others playing regularly the Nishino dynasty is underway! Albirex should not put up too much of a fight and Vissel will be disappointed if they do not win this one, which will add to their confidence in the coming weeks.
Albirex Niigata (P14 W3 D3 L8 GD -11) have won just three games last season, but one of those was last week against Shimizu S-Pulse and they will nave gained a new found confidence under new coach Yanagishita, after winning for him in his first game. but they have not displayed much for any opponents to be too concerned about so far this season and I expect a WIN for VISSEL KOBE!

Gamba Osaka – DF Kaji out for another month, DF Eduardo out for at least another month. FW Kawanishi approaches fitness after sis months out with a broken leg.
Urawa Reds – Naoki Yamada is the only (long-term) injury absentee.

An overwhelming 11 wins for Gamba Osaka in the last decade, as opposed to just four for Urawa Reds – with eight draws in those 23 meetings, which includes two AFC Champions league ties.

Gamba Osaka (P12 W2 D3 L7 GD -10) have had a torrid start to the season since the resignation of manager Akira Nishino at the end of the last campaign. Their original team of Serrao and Lopes didn’t last long and now Gamba’s youngest ever manager – Masanobu Matsunami – is in charge and hoping to turn thing around. Gamba had had, and still have, their injury problems, and are trying to bring in a a lot of young players – perhaps too many at one time, so the older heads like Endo, Myojin and Futagawa are going to have to pull this team through! Excellent performances in the national team will have given Konno some confidence, also. The Gamba revival starts here!?

Urawa Reds (P13 W6 D4 L3 GD +4) seem to suffer against Gamba, although, on current form they should be expecting it easier than in recent seasons! Marcio Richardes has finally come into form, while Genki Haraguchi is back to full fitness, so those two have to make up for the fact that Reds have not really have a real target man this season. Perhaps home form and the fact that it is perennial rivals Reds will swing it and make this a WIN for GAMBA OSAKA.

Kawasaki Frontale – DFs Komiyama and Ito are close to return, while DF Jeci is expected back in late July. MF Oshima is out with ligament damage, MF Noborizato out for two months with a lumbar fracture.

Six wins for Kawasaki Frontale, two for Sagan Tosu, with one draw, back in 2003 – all in meetings have been in J2 except for this season’s Nabisco Cup win for Sagan in March.

Sagan Tosu are still unbeaten at home, and have the best defence in the league (along with S-Pulse with 11 goals conceded) and will be hoping to keep up that record as they confound expectations and prove to be the best of the promoted teams, so far! They have faltered a little in their last five, with three draws, a loss and a fortunate, last kick-of-the-game win against Gamba Osaka last time out so will be hoping they can kick-start their campaign after this break.

Kawasaki Frontale (P13 W7 D1 L5 GD 0) have won four of their last five, including a win at Vegalta Sendai last time out, and will not be overawed by the Sagan’s home record but I believe the best defence in the league can hold out and, with defensive injuries mounting for Frontale, they may not be able to hold off Toyoda and company – expect a WIN for SAGAN TOSU!

Cerezo Osaka – Hiroshi Kiyotake has confirmed a move to FC Nurnberg after the Olympics and will be playing his last few games for Cerezo.

Very even over the last decade with six wins for Cerezo, five for Sanfrecce and three draws, although Sanfrecce haven’t won in the last five meetings.

With the impending move to the Bundesliga for Kiyotake now confirmed, the Cerezo Osaka (P13 W5 D2 L6 GD +1) fans will be turning up in their extra 1000s to see their hero off and may well be the proverbial extra man behind their team. Cerezo have been notoriously inconsistent this season – even giving Consadole their only win so far – and seem to not know when they turn it on! I feel that, with Kiyotake leaving (and the rumoured possibility of moves by BK Kim and Ogihara) that Cerezo will raise their game and take this one!

Sanfrecce Hiroshima have somewhat surprised us, having lost top players over the last year AND manager Petrovic to reds, but it seems the man who took over – Moriyasu – knows enough of the tactics to keep it going …. even improve the side. With Ishihara among the goals – after rarely getting a look-in at Omiya last season – and confidence flowing, it will take a big performance from Cerezo to take them out. But that’s what I see happening… a WIN for CEREZO OSAKA!

Jubilo Iwata – FW Kanazono is out until mid-September, both MF Kitawaki and GK Kawaguchi are out for the season with Achilles injuries.

In the last ten seasons it’s been eight wins for Jubilo Iwata, six for Vissel Kobe, with three draws, though all of Vissel’s wins have come since 2007.

Since losing out to Kawasaki Frontale in a 4-3 thriller five games back Jubilo Iwata (P13 W7 D3 L3 GD +13) have won three out of their last four and scored 15 goals in the process. The arrival of Baek has changed the team, in my opinion, from an average mid-table plodder to a goal-scoring machine! They now sit just three points off the top (and a place above local rivals S-Pulse) and will be looking to put pressure on the teams above them with another big win.

Vissel Kobe (P13 W5 D0 L8 GD -5) have got their man in new manager Akira Nishino and, while he will be hard-pushed to get this team in the top 3 THIS season, Vissel fans can look forward to a patient building of a team that can challenge for honours in the coming seasons. Vissel have lost three league games in a row coming into this match but have had plenty of the play and need to take their chances to get wins on the board. I am sticking my neck out here and saying a WIN for VISSEL KOBE!

Albirex Niigata – DF Uchida out for the season.

Shimizu S-Pulse – MF Shinji Ono is suffering recurring ankle problems and should be considered doubtful.

Very even over the last ten seasons, eight wins each and five draws in 21 meetings over the last decade.

Albirex Niigata (P13 W2 D3 L8 GD -12) have a new manager in Nobuhiro Ueno, after former manager Hisashi Kurosaki stepped down due to a disappointing start to the season. While the players will all be looking to impress a new boss, the current crop of players have shown little in the way of fight in their previous games and I can’t see any major change under a new manager.

Meanwhile, Shimizu S-Pulse (P13 W7 D2 L4 GD +4) have only conceded 11 goals so far this season, although they have only scored 15 in their 13 games – two goals in their last four games, included one win and two draws! This one could be a low-scoring win for the away team, although I fancy S-Pulse to open the floodgates finally and notch more than one goal this time. Expect a WIN for SHIMIZU S-PULSE!

Yokohama F. Marinos – MF Ogura out until at least mid-July. DF Amano out for the season.

FC Tokyo – MF Otake is out for the season, while FW Hirayama is close to a return to fitness.

Head to head over the last decade it is eight wins each and four draws, although it is April 2008 since Marinos got a win!

Yokohama F.Marinos (P13 W4 D6 L3 GD +2) are unbeaten in their last five, although the last two were draws, and have gotten over their terrible start to the season and sneaked into the top half of the table after 13 games. Two 0-0 draws against S-Pulse and Gamba have slowed the momentum so the fans will be looking for a goal and some points against FC Tokyo. They need to put some of the chances away and perhaps Yuji Ono should be getting the nod over Oguro?

FC Tokyo (P12 W7 D1 L4 GD +2) faltered after their excellent start and were knocked out of the AFC Champions League recently. Last time out they were held by Urawa Reds, but the previous three games were wins so the revival in this up and down season is currently in motion and the will be hoping to knock down close rivals Marinos, as there are only four points between the teams right now, although Tokyo have that ACL-postponed game in hand. Expect a DRAW here today.

Omiya Ardija – Slovenian Zdenko Verdenik was appointed manager of Omiya – he formerly managed at JEF United, Nagaoya Grampus and Vegalta Sendai, so has plenty of experience in J.League. DF Fukaya is suspended, DF Tsubouchi not expected back from injury this week.

Kashiwa Reysol – Ricardo Lobo and Kitajima (FWs) have both gone out on loan.

Four wins for Omiya, three for Kashima and five draws between these two teams since 2005.

Omiya Ardija (P13 W4 D3 L6 GD -11) have a new coach, who is experienced in the ways of Japanese football and we hear he favours a 4-4-2 line-up for Ardija, possibly with Cho as an out and out forward. Ardija have won one of their last five and will be hoping that a coaching change will do the trick. They certainly have the players to be in a better position than they are, so we will have to wait and see if Verdenik can turn the corner.

Kashiwa Reysol (P12 W5 D2 L5 GD 0) are on a run of three wins in the league, although they were knocked out of the AFC Champions league at the Last 16 stage. They have finally come to their senses and jettisoned Ricardo Lobo (to JEF United) and there is talk of a new Brazilian forward in the pipeline but not for this week. Right back Sakai is said to have confirmed a move to Hanover in the Bundesliga, and he will be a big loss. I feel there may be the adrenalin of a new manager winning out over the winning run of Kashiwa today – expect a WIN for OMIYA ARDIJA!

Nagoya Grampus – DF Arai is close to a return from injury, while MF Isomura will be out for most of the season. MF Danilson must be considered doubtful, MF Nakamura is out for at least another month.

In the last ten seasons we have seen Kashima Antlers win 14 times, with just seven victories for Nagoya Grampus, and two draws.

Kashima Antlers (P13 W5 D2 L6 GD +3) had a dire start to the season but have seen a recovery recently and have won their last two games – away at Vissel Kobe, where they were out-shot 14 to 7, but came out winners – and the 7-0 home win over hapless Consadole. Koroki and Osako have nine goals between them and looking better after the team opened the season on that scoreless run. They will be hoping to beat a Nagoya Grampus (P12 W5 D2 L5 GD -2) who have won just one of their last five and are on a downward spiral – including exit from the ACL Champions League). Manager Stoijkovic will ring the changes and no-one’s place will be safe as he plots to bring the team out of their slump. But not today, expect a win for KASHIMA ANTLERS!